both candidates downplay expectations ahead of the first presidential debate of the 2012 election. >>> to the rescue. tense moments as an 84-year-old woman's car plunges into a maine harbor. >>> and flipping out. a powerful typhoon wreaks havoc on southern japan. >>> good morning to you. i'm veronica de la cruz. those stories and much more straight ahead. this is "first look" on msnbc. >>> we begin this morning with debate prep. president obama and his republican rival mitt romney are both getting ready for their first face to face presidential debate in denver wednesday night. romney is holding a rally in the mile-high city today, while the president gears up in nevada. nbc's tracie potts joins us from washington with the latest. >> reporter: good morning, everyone. we get an interesting perspective on this from john mccain, he's debated both the president and mitt romney. he says we will see two very strong well-prepared debaters and he predicts few surprises. the president's behind closed doors in nevada for the next two days preparing to face mitt romney in denver wednesday. >> he